PS. Hi Alan,
how are you and what are you up to in 2010?
AM. I am fine
thanks, I work in the Caravan upholstery trade, not as good as
my previous job as a manager of a Lace Company, unfortunately it
was a dying trade and I was made redundant after many years
there. I am now in my 60th year this year, blimey that makes it
35 years since I rode at Stoke. I have 2 children and 3
grandchildren and one due shortly. My son was never interested
in speedway but perhaps my 2 grandsons might.
PS. You had a
memorable 1975 season for Stoke, have you any specific stand out
memories from that season?
AM. What a season
that was, having only started 2 years before to find that sort
of form was great and it got better and better as the season
went on, especially my gating. I won the Geoff Curtis memorial
trophy at Crewe that year and the Millenium trophy at Boston
which were memorable. The Stoke team were all doing well till
the wheels came off half way through the season which was
disappointing but on the whole it was one of my favourite
seasons and certainly the busiest, I did 120 meetings that year
doubling up with Coventry and all the open meetings. I
certainly remember the fans who were great especially on the
away trips.
PS. How was
the Stoke track back in those days?
AM. I seem to recall
during 1975 the Stoke track was a bit bigger than it is now, but
I loved it, I always did like bigger tracks, but when I rode for
Long Eaton in 1982/3 again I thought it was a great place to
ride.
PS. One of
your Stoke team mates was ‘Crazy’ Jack Millen, any particular
memories about him?
AM. I must admit,
Crazy Jack was not my favourite rider. He may have made a
reputation for himself as a big hard rider but I remember one
second half final at Stoke he put myself and the other two
riders all through the fence, not the actions of a good team
man, fortunately we all walked away uninjured.
PS. Steady
progress Average wise in the NL up until you left Stoke, how did
the Coventry deal happen?
AM. I had been
doubling up with Coventry during 1975 and I had a phone call to
see if I wanted to move up to the first division with Coventry.
Of course I jumped at the chance to ride at the top level, of
course not everyone can make it but I think I gave a good
account of myself during my 1st division days.
PS. How good
was the Coventry team you joined?
AM. Excellent, a
mixture of old and new, but the team did get even better, in
fact we won the league twice, in 1978/79.
PS. How was it
riding alongside the great Ole Olsen?
AM. A lot has always
been talked about my partnership with Ole Olsen, he was a great
rider but people seem to forget that behind every number one you
need to have a good team to back him up, which Coventry did,
there was myself, Mitch Shirra, Alf Busk, Tommy Knudsen for
example. I was delighted to move up to heat leader status after
2 seasons.
PS. After 5
seasons a move to Sheffield, why did that not work out as good
as you’d hoped for do you think?
AM. Although I liked
riding at Sheffield and had some excellent meetings there,
circumstances and injuries resulted in a far from happy season
except the last six weeks when I came back from serious injuries
( I broke my jaw), I only dropped 6 points which gave me renewed
confidence.
PS. What was
the worst injury in your career?
AM. The worst injury
was when I broke my arm at Coventry 4th July 1979, it was broke
in 4 places, a spiral fracture and put me out for the rest of
the season, also broke my jaw at Hull, and foot at Oxford.
PS. You
returned to Stoke in 83 in Long Eaton colours to win the Pride
of the Potteries meeting with a 15 pt max, what do you recall of
this?
AM. Winning the
Pride of the Potteries was one of my favourite all time wins. I
do recall I was off gate 4 in my last race and Pete Smith was in
the race, he was no slouch around Stoke so I told my mechanic to
put a low gear on to get me out of the start and I would defend
my position once I got out of the start, it worked and I made a
rocket start and led all the way.
PS. I hear
you visit speedway tracks in a motorhome! Is or has Loomer Rd
been on the horizon?
AM. We have had a
motor home for 7 years now and travel on holiday all over the
country. We go to speedway where there is a track nearby and
have been to Somerset and Peterborough on our travels. We also
go to Cardiff every year and stay at a site in Newport. David
Tattum rang me last year to invite me to the 80th anniversary
but we were on holiday at the time which was a shame. I will be
coming to Stoke sometime this year.
PS. How do
you find todays speedway compared to your time in the sport?
AM. Speedway has
moved on quite a bit mechanically and the air fence has got to
be the best improvement for years. I am very critical regarding
the wearing of Kevlars, to many riders are suffering burns,
okay they are more flexible and lightweight and probably cheaper
but at what price.
PS. What was
your favourite era for speedway?
AM. I am probably
being biased but I think the 1970's and 80's were my favourite
years, there were more characters riding, more controversy.
PS. Who was
your favourite rider?
AM. Barry Briggs
without a doubt was my favourite rider and it was such a thrill
to beat him at Coventry after watching him as a
schoolboy, meeting and beating your hero's are what most people
dream about, including myself when I sat looking at the track at
Long Eaton through my school room window.
PS. Finally
Alan you are still statistically one of Stokes highest ever
averaged riders (10.14), how do you feel about that?
AM. Very proud, it
was such a good season and it got better and better, I think I
finished 3rd in the league averages.
